Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Eugene, OR
VS
Richmond, VA
🏆 Eugene leads 12 of 23 categories
Eugene
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,481 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
176,755
Richmond
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
227,171 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Eugene, OR
Pros
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $406,000
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 6.1%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Richmond
Richmond, VA
Pros
Homes cost $98k less ($308,300 vs $406,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (6.1%)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Eugene
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Eugene
Median Income
$1,875
$61,481 vs $59,606/yr
Eugene
Violent Crime
6% lower
317.9 vs 336.9 per 100k
Richmond
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Richmond
Median Home Value
$98k less
$308,300 vs $406,000
Richmond
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.1% unemployment
Richmond
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 89.5°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Eugene, OR | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.8⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $406,000⚠ High | $308,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,269 | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,481 ✓ Higher | $59,606 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 22.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.2% ✓ Higher | 44.1% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Eugene SD 4J | Richmond City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 47.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 89.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.1" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 8.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,755 | 227,171 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% ✓ Higher | 43.2% |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 17.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Eugene's cost of living index is 103.8 vs Richmond's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Richmond is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Eugene leads 12 of 23 categories. Eugene wins 12 and Richmond wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Eugene to Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($406,000 vs $308,300 median home), income ($61,481 vs $59,606), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Eugene, OR and Richmond, VA are about 2,398 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.